Outgoing Tide

Again the tide is leaving the river. This morning we wake to find it covered in patches of snowy icebergs. It's mezmerizing to watch the pieces float quietly down river. Last night the Canada Geese were anchored right near the flagpole. Always a good sign to have those kids back in town! Hearing them without seeing them is one of the nicest treats of the day.

It's a good day to be in the studio. Snow falling, birds squawking at the feeder and a room full of colors are waiting for me!

Closeup Inspiration

There are some days that begin with an idea that is already in your head.
Then there are other days that the idea doesn't come until something catches your eye.

Today is one of those days I think.

It's Never Too Early

For the greens of spring! I was working with a black and white piece of glass yesterday. The glass clock that I was making came alive when I introduced the neon green. I may not always know what time it is, but it's always time for neon green! The clock will be going into a show called "It's About Time" at Maine Art Glass Studio in Lisbon, Falls, Maine. The face of the clock is done with vitreous paint, black on white glass. The clock mechanics are a Westminster Chime (battery operated) with a gold pendulum. I'll post a photo of it soon. There are no numbers on the clock and the hands are a bit obscure...my intention, since I'm trying to slow time down when in the studio.

It was the green that made it all work. Somehow, green always does!

All About Time

In the studio this morning working on a glass clock for the clock show at Maine Art Glass Studio in Lisbon Falls. The opening reception is 7pm this Friday evening, the 13th. I'm figuring a bit of fusing and some 'fritting' will be in order. Hopefully, I'll have a picture to post by Friday of the finished piece.

I'd much rather be out on the river hanging out with the ice bergs and my camera this morning. The formations are amazing and enticing. The clam flats are visible...could it be....spring?

Pink Bench

Next to our garden pond we have a neon pink bench. At the moment it is completely covered in snow. Usually it is a beacon of inspiration as it invites me out there to sit and watch the pond world unfold before me. But, here it is with it's flaking paint and frosty acorns ready to bring closure to the next piece of glass that comes off the worktable. 'Closure' is meant in the design composition sense and the finished sense.

"Three Angel Heads" A 'Shaker Gift Drawing', or 'Spririt Drawing' (artist unknown). I am currently working on a series of interpretations of some of these Shaker drawings. My interpretations will be depicted in glass, incorporating frit and fusing techniques. The Shaker Spirit Drawings were instruments of "tokens of love" a "gift" sent from the spirit world. Some of the drawings were visions, some mix handwritten encouraging words along with symbolic spiritual things, like the Shaker "Basket of Apples", or famous "Tree Of Life". The spirit drawings are meant to convey the heavenly rewards expected in the afterlife. You may be asking what has drawn me portray these images in glass? In the early 80's I was fortunate enough to have lived with the Sabbathday Lake Shakers in New Gloucester, Maine. Being surrounded by everything Shaker was an amazingly powerful experience for me. I resonnated with the many "gift" drawings that I saw throughout the village at the time. It has been nice going 'back' to revisit those images and meanings. Currently, I am working on a series of handmade books that visit these same images and experiences. I find that immersing myself into what I'm trying to create from a variety of imagry or artistic techniques, helps me to live it more and 'see' with more depth.

Website Reconstruction www.heronpointstudio.com

It's a sunny Sunday and I should be out there cross country skiing and enjoying the warmth of the winter sun. But no, I decided that today was the day for updating my website.

http://www.heronpointstudio.com/

It's still 'in progress', but it's well on it's way.

The image for today is a reminder that winter isn't over just because the ice is breaking up in the river.

This is a fused glass piece that was in a show at Figureworks Gallery in Brooklyn, NY

www.figureworks.com

Cousin's River in January

Snow-covered summer

The river is frozen and it's beautiful. The sounds it makes as the tides goes in and out is mystical.